Neither is approved by Health Canada for the research uses discussed here, even though both exist as approved prescription drugs elsewhere
In these medications, liraglutide and semaglutide have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in clinical trials, leading to substantial weight reductions (Pi-Sunyer et al 2015
The shortage ended in early 2025 and the FDA allowed a grace period for the compounded medications to be prescribed until late April
cost down to about $150 out of pocket through Most Favored Nation drug pricing negotiations
Weight Loss Results with Rybelsus: While not FDA-approved for weight loss, clinical trials showed: 3 mg dose: 1-2% body weight loss 7 mg dose: 2-3% body weight loss 14 mg dose: 3-5% body weight loss Compare to injectable semaglutide (Wegovy): 2.4 mg weekly injection: 10-15% body weight loss The difference: Injectable semaglutide produces 3-5 times more weight loss than oral semaglutide at maximum doses
In a traditional batch approach, manufacturers have to store those fractions until they can be reprocessed, which increases waste, drives up raw material usage, and opens the door to operational bottlenecks
